Kandara (band)

Kandara
कन्दरा
Kandara Logo
Kandara Logo
Background information
Also known asKandara Band
OriginPokhara, Nepal
GenresFolk pop, Soft rock
Years active1992 (1992)–present
LabelsRanjana Cassete, Santana Records, Stereo Records[1]
MembersBivek Shrestha (Vocalist)
Sunil Thapa (Drum)
Dev Lama (Guitar)
Pankaj Jha (Bass)
Avinash Gayak (Percussion)
Umesh Thapa (Keyboard)
Past membersBuddharaj Bajracharya[2]
Deepak Raj Mulmi[2]
Anand Tajiya[2]
Sunil Bhattachan[2]
Bijay Gurung[3]
Amar Gurung[3]
Sadeep Tulachan[1]
Websitewww.kandaraband.com

Kandara (Nepali: कन्दरा) is a musical band from Nepal. The band was founded in 1992 in Pokhara.[4] The name of the band is derived from the Nepali word Kandara, which means a gorge or cave nestled within remote hills or mountains.[5][6] The band has released five albums, and their music is of the folk-pop genre. Bivek Shrestha and Sunil Thapa are among the founding members of the band.[7]

History

1990-2000

Kandara was founded in 1992 by the group of adolescents from Pokhara.[4] The band were originally named "24 Carat," but then changed their name to "Kandara".[2] The band's first album was "Chanchale Kanchi," released in 1994.[8] The band gained popularity with the song "Hong Kong Pokhara" from their third album of the same name which released in 1998[9] and was written by Saru Bhakta Shrestha. The band have released several albums over the course of their career, with songs such as Hong Kong Pokhara, Lekaki Hey Maya, Bhedi Gothaima, Timi Pari Tyo Gauma, Tagaroma Rumal Rakhi, Bichara Ma, and Ke Pahad Ke Terai amongst the band’s most notable works.[10] During the Nepalese Civil War, the band released Ke Pahad, Ke Terai, addressing the theme of unity in diversity.[4]

2000-2025

The band took a long pause from music after the vocalist and co-founder, Bivek Shrestha, moved to the United Kingdom in September 2001.[11][12] In 2006, the band released the album "Barshaun Pachi," [13] and 10 years later, the band released their most recent album "Bhedi Ghotaima."[4] For their 32nd anniversary, the band released a new song, ‘Hunechha: The Song of Hope’, which was launched by K. P. Sharma Oli then prime minister of Nepal.[14] To mark the occasion, Kandara also began a tour titled "Pahile Ghar Desh, Ani Pardesh," [15] As a part of this tour, they performed in places such as their home town Pokhara, to an audience of 10,000, and in London on 6 January 2025 at the Indigo at The O2.[16][17][18]

The band announced its upcoming album, '"Kavis Sanga Kandara"', at an event held in Kathmandu.[19]

Band members

Kandara Concert in Pokhara - 2024

Musical style

Kandara's songs are often referred to as folk-pop, which is a blend of Nepali folk style and pop music.[8] The Band’s musical style also carries elements of mellow soft rock and contemporary pop. The band has collaborated with poets and lyricists including Saru Bhakta Shrestha, Binod Gauchan, and Ramesh Shrestha.

Discography

YearAlbum or Single
1994Chanchale Kanchi (Debut Album)[8]
1996Danda Pari
1998Hong Kong Pokhara [9]
2006Barsau Pachhi
2016Bhedi Gothaima
2024Bichara Ma (Single)[21]
2025Hunechha: The Song of Hope (Single)[22]

Awards and recognition

YearCategoryAward
1995WinnerBit Contest
1997Best Performance by a Group or Duo with Vocal [23]Hits FM Music Awards
2010The Best Rock Band award [24]Hits FM Music Awards
2016Album of the Year “Bhedi Gothaima” [23]Hits FM Music Awards

Concerts

Date/YearProgramPlace
1996Kandara LiveButwal, Nepal[2]
1990sHong Kong shows (iconic connection)Hong Kong
July 2018Kandara USA TourAmerica[25]
Oct 4, 2024Return gigDharan, Nepal[26]
Nov 9, 2024Kathmandu Calling KandaraKathmandu, Nepal[27]
January-July 2025Global tourUnited Kingdom, Dubai, Japan, Australia/New Zealand, USA/Canada, Europe
Jan 4, 2025Kandara: Live at Indigo at O2London, England[28]
Jan 30, 2025Kandara: LiveHong Kong
March-April, 2025Nepal Festival 2025Australia[29]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Kandara - Hot Property". radiokantipur.com. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Kandara: A popular band ruling Nepali music in the 1990s". 25 July 2022. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  3. 1 2 "'कमब्याक' खोज्दै कन्दरा". Online Khabar. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Kandara's 32-year journey: Bivek Shrestha talks comeback, new music, and touring - OnlineKhabar English News". 7 November 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  5. ↑ "Nepali Shabdakosh | English Nepali Dictionary | Nepali Rhymes". nepalishabdakosh.com. Retrieved 23 September 2025.
  6. ↑ "Kandara Band Nepal – ArtistNepal". artistnepal.com. Retrieved 24 September 2025.
  7. ↑ "कन्दरा: लोकपपमा चर्चित साङ्गीतिक ‍ब्यान्डको नयाँ जुरमुराहटको कथा". BBC News नेपाली (in Nepali). 21 August 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  8. 1 2 3 "Kandara: 21 years strong". kathmandupost.com. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  9. 1 2 "८ वर्षपछि 'कन्दरा' को नयाँ वर्ष २०७२ सालमा पुनरागमन". Bisal Chautari. Retrieved 25 September 2025.
  10. ↑ "Kandara's Kathmandu debut: 7 iconic songs to rediscover ahead of historic concert - OnlineKhabar English News". 8 November 2024. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  11. ↑ "Kandara's request to return to the country". ekantipur.com. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  12. ↑ "...त्यसपछि गुमनाम भयो 'कन्दरा ब्यान्ड'". Naya Patrika (in np). Retrieved 16 September 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  13. ↑ Nepal, Glamour (8 March 2015). "Kandara, Bivek Shrestha is Back". Glamour Nepal. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  14. ↑ "Kandara band releases 'Hunechha: The Song of Hope'". myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  15. ↑ "Kathmandu welcomes Kandara back: 32nd anniversary concert set for November 9 - OnlineKhabar English News". 25 October 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  16. ↑ "Kandara performs its first concert in London". www.myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  17. ↑ Raut, Kumar (14 January 2024). "पोखराबाट कन्दराको सांगीतिक यात्रा सुरु : RajdhaniDaily.com". राजधानी राष्ट्रिय दैनिक (लोकप्रिय राष्ट्रिय दैनिक)-RajdhaniDaily.com - Online Nepali News Portal-Latest Nepali Online News portal of Nepali Polities, economics, news, top stories, national, international, politics, sports, business, finance, entertainment, photo-gallery, audio, video and more... (in Nepali). Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "पोखरालाई फेरि मन्त्रमुग्ध बनायो कन्दराले". News of Nepal. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  19. ↑ "Kandara to light up Kathmandu with Rhythm of Change - OnlineKhabar English News". 11 November 2025. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
  20. ↑ "Kandara to perform at iconic O2 Arena". The Annapurna Express (in Nepali). Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  21. ↑ "7 recently released Nepali songs - OnlineKhabar English News". 26 November 2023. Retrieved 20 September 2025.
  22. ↑ "PM releases Kandara band's new song". GorakhaPatra. Retrieved 17 September 2025.
  23. 1 2 "About | Hits FM 91.2 | Welcome". Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  24. ↑ RecentMusic.com. RecentMusic - KANDARA New Releases. Retrieved 15 September 2025 – via recentmusic.com.
  25. ↑ "अब कन्दरा कन्सर्ट!". Setopati. Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  26. ↑ "Kandara shows no stage rust during their return gig". myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com. 8 August 2024. Retrieved 15 September 2025.
  27. ↑ "Kandara marks 32 years of music". The Annapurna Express (in Nepali). Retrieved 16 September 2025.
  28. ↑ "'कन्दरा लाइभ इन् यूके' ले ३२ वर्षको सपना पूरा भएको छ : गायक विवेक श्रेष्ठ". www.ratopati.com (in Nepali). Retrieved 19 September 2025.
  29. ↑ "'Kandara' resonates at Melbourne Nepali Festival, 'tribute' to Gopal Yonjan". Nepal News. Retrieved 16 September 2025.
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